Method of hoisting and anchoring heavy structures in a building

ABSTRACT

Method and apparatus for hoisting heavy elements is provided in which the supports for the element are hoisted along with the element itself. One or more beam assemblies are mounted on each of the supports above the element to be hoisted. Means for positioning each support with respect to the element are also provided so that the element and supports may be hoisted into place with concurrent alignment of the supports with respect to openings provided for the permanent mounting of the element.

vJones United States Patent 1191 1111 3,722,170 1 51 Mar. 27, 1973 I:[75] Inventor:

1541' 1 METHOD OF HOISTING AND [52] US. Cl. ..52/745, 52/236, 248/59,

. 248l32 0,294/74 51 1111.01; .....E04g 21/00 [58] Field of Search..'52/27, 29, 39, 741, 745, 122,

[ 56]- I References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,334,13 9- 11/1943Wilson... ..2 48/320 2,871,544 2/1959 You'tz," ....52/74s- FOREIGN ORAPPLICATIONS 11/1949 France ..248/58 11/1957 Austria.....

Primary Examiner-Henry C. Sutherland v I 1 v Attoi-rwy-l-Iarry C.Bierman, Jordan B; Bierman an Bierman & Bierman [57] ABSTRACT Method andapparatus for hoisting heavy elements is provided in which the supportsfor the element are hoisted along with the element itself. One or morebeam assemblies are mounted on each of the supports above the element tobe hoisted. Means for positioning each support with respect to theelement are also 'provided so that the element and supports may behoisted into place with concurrent alignment of the supports withrespect to openings provided for the permanent mounting of the element.

4Claims,6DrawingF igures 9/1970 Germany ..1 ..294/67 AA INVENTOR. F I G,I, HERBERT FRANCIS JONES c Kl rm,

v PATENH'Bmznsrs SHEET 2 OF 3 FIG.3.

FIG. 2.

INVENTOR. HERBERT FRANCIS JONES BY fl/ M I 4 MM 'n rmew rr.

PATENTma-mz 71m SHEET 3 0r 3 III] HQ 0 my. lllii I IHHHM. v m l|JllE Mg]FIG.6.

INVENTOR.

HERBERT FRANCIS JONES heavy mechanical equipment, such as boilers,drums,-

air conditioning compressors and other service utilities. The size ofmany such buildings dictates the use of one or more equipment floorsabove ground level in order to adequately provide for service utilitiesto all tenants. Service utilities such as boiler components have todayassumed massive proportions and weight and they are very difficult tohoist up and properly place'within the building superstructure.

Structural steel framing for large boiler installations is composed ofmany closely spaced heavy columns and girders and little space is leftbetween girders for the hoisting of large equipment into place on thevarious equipment floors provided for in the building. For instance,many of today's boiler drums weigh as much as 275 tons, are generallyover90 feet in length and over 6 feet in diameter. Installation of suchlarge size drums hung from the framing high above ground is generallycarried out by first inclining the drum and then hoisting the drum whilekeeping it in an inclined position to per- Where very large drums are tobe hoisted into place, it is often necessary to incline the drum duringhoisting to enable the huge drum to clear the building superstructure onthe lower floors. In this case, the beam assembly is pivoted to permitthe U-bolt supports to freely pivot into a vertical position regardlessof the.

angle the drum makes with respect to the horizontal. To accomplish this,the center of gravity of each U-bolt is below the pivot point. Ofcourse, the U-bolts must also be mounted on the drum so that the bottomof each U-bolt is free to remain in a vertical position remitsuperstructure passage clearance at lower floors until the drum has beenhoisted into the desired position. A serires of U-bolt supports are thenhoisted into place under the drum, and the U-bolt supports are thenconnected to the building supports provided in the superstructure forthe drum. It should be readily obvious that the hoisting of the inclineddrum is a delicate operation and that the difficulty of the operation issignificantly increased by the need to maintain the drum suspended inplace during the subsequent hoisting and aligning of the U-bolt supportsnecessary to affix the drum to the building superstructure. Mostsignificantly, the separate hoisting of drum and U-bolts takes a verylong time, generally a full day, during which constructionwork in theimmediate are must cease in order to remove workmen from the area ofdanger.

In accordance with the present invention, the above difficulties areminimized and hoisting times reduced, often by a factor of 5 or 10. Thisis achieved by prepositioningthe U-bolt supports with respect to theweight ly good initial alignment of the U-bolt supports with respect totheir mounting points in the superstructure is provided, therebyeliminating the need to hoist each U- bolt support separately from theground into an aligned position inthe building superstructure.

gardless of the inclination of the drum.

Most drums have a number of openings for various connections located onthe upper side thereof. For best results, some of these openings areused in conjunction with connection means mounted on the beam assemblywhich are adapted for insertion therein.

Referring now to the drawings, in which like numerals refer to likeparts;

FIG. 1 is a front view showing the manner in-which a heavy element maybe hoisted while maintainingthe U- bolt in a vertical position while thedrum is in an inclined position;

FIG. 2 is a side view in section of one of the U-bolt supports and thedrum shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the means for fixing the position of theU-bolt and a means for permitting the U-bolt to swing relative to thedrum so as to remain vertical;

FIG. 4 is a detailed view of a pipe clamp shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a detailed side view of an alternate embodiment of the pivotbeam assembly similar to FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a detailed view showing the structure of the pivot means ofFIG. 5.

The following description centers on the hoisting of a boiler drum.However, it is to be understood that the method and apparatus describedherein can be used for hoisting any type of equipment. Referring now toFIG. 1, numeral 10 denotes a large boiler drum to be hoisted up to aconventional supporting girder floor 12 of the type used for equipmentfloors in large boiler stations. The boiler drum 10 is provided withlifting lugs 14 at each end thereof to which rope falls 16 areconnected.'Conventional wire rope' falls 16 are used to hoist the boilerdrum 10 into place underneath the supporting girders.

As shown in FIG. 1, boiler drum 10 is moved from a horizontal positionon the ground into an inclinedposition for hoisting, shown by thephantom outline of the drum in its next lowermost position. The drum ismaintained in the inclined position throughout hoisting to permit theboiler drum 10 to clear the building floor beams on the lower floors.Conventional practice is to hoist the inclined drum until it is adjacentto girders 12, then return the drum to a substantially horizontalposition under the girders 12. The drum is maintained in its suspendedposition under girders 12 by rope falls 16.

while separate assemblies (not shown) are utilized to hoist each theU-bolts 20 into place under the drum 10. Openings 22 are provided in thegirders 12 for the U- bolts 20 and each U-bolt must be separatelyhoistedand aligned with respect to the openings 22.

In accordance with the present invention the boiler drum 10 is firstlifted into the first inclined position by the rope falls 16. EachU-bolt 20 is then positioned around the boiler drum 10. Beam assembly 24is provided for positionally locating each of the U-bolts 20 withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the boiler drum l and for mountingU-bolts 20 on the drum. The beam assembly 24 is mounted on each U-bolt20 such that the center of gravity of the U-bolt liesbelow the beamassembly to provide for automatic maintenance of the U-bolt 20 in avertical position even though the drum is inclined. In this manner, theU-bolts are in fact pre-aligned with respect to the openings 22 in thegirders 12 and the combination of drum 10 and U-bolts 20 may be liftedconcurrently into final position. By hoisting the drum into place inaccordance with the instant invention, the time necessary for completingthe operation of securing the drum to the supporting girders ismaterially reduced, along with the danger'of major accidents. It canalso be readily appreciated that the savings in time afforded by theinstant invention will significantly reduce the cost of placing a largeboiler drum into an upper floor ofa building;

Referring now to FIG. 2, U-bolt 20 is conventional and is positionedaround the drum 10 such that the drum is not in contact with the bottomportion 26 of the U-bolt 20. The drum is supported in the position shownby rope falls 16 (FIG. 1). Beam assembly 24 is comprised of a supportmember 28 which fits between the legs 30, 32 of the U-bolt. A pluralityof pipe clamps 34 are fixedly mounted on each end of the support member28by conventional means such as bolts 36. The pipe clamps are adapted toengage the legs 30, 32 of the U-bolt and tightening means such asconventional bolts 38 are provided at the ends ofthe pipe clamps tosecure them to the U-bolt. In this manner, the support member 28 may besolidly affixed to the legs 30, 32 of the U-bolt support.

Referring now to both FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, it will be seen that a pair ofangle plates 40 are fixed to and depend from the bottom of the supportmember 28. Conventional means such as welding may be used to affix theangle plates to the support member 28. Each of the angle plates 40 isprovided with an opening 42 in the depending leg 44. A pivot bar 46 isfreely mounted in the openings 42 for reasons explained hereinafter.

Boiler drums of the type described herein havemany openings along theirsurface, such as pipe nipple 48. To positionally fix the support member28 with respect to the longitudinal axis of the drum l0,'plug-52 isprovided with an opening 50 in which pivot bar 46 is loosely mounted.Plug 52 is adapted to fit within the pipe nipple 48. Rope falls 16maintain drum 10 in the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 so that theU-bolt 20 is in fact supported by the support member 28.

The support member 28 is positioned with respect to the U-bolt 20 suchthat the center of gravity of the U- bolt lies below the support member.Since the U-bolt 20 is connected to the drum 10 only through the pivotthat a separate hoist line (not shown) can be fixed thereto to raiseeach U-bolt 20 through the openings 22 to be secured to girders 12.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, wherein an alternate embodiment of thebeam assembly 24 is shown, 56 denotes a support member, 58 denotes apivot bar and 60 denotes pipe clamp assembly. In this embodiment,support member 56 is preferably an I-beam 62 which has a plate 64 weldedto the end of the I-beam. An opening 66 is provided in the plate 64 andpivot bar 58 is mounted in the opening and maintained thereon byconventional nut 70. Of course, the end of the pivot bar is threaded asshown to receive the nut. To provide room for the nut 70 a portion ofthe web of the I-beam is cut away at 68. Affixed to the other end of thepivot bar 58 by conventional means are pipe clamps '72 similar to thepipe clamp shown in FIG. 4. It can be readily appreciated that anypivoting motion now takes place about the two pivot bars 58 which aremounted coaxially with the support member 56 instead of about a pivotbar suspended below the supportmember, as described in connection withFIGS. 2 and 3. Whereas in the embodiment described in FIGS. 2 and 3 thesupport member did not rotate with respect to the U-bolt, in'the instantembodiment the support member 56 can rotate with respect to the U-bolt20.

In the embodiment described in FIGS. 5 and 6, the provision of pivotbars in line with the support member eliminates the need for the angleplates 40 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. In this instance, a simple plug 74 maybe mounted on the support 'member to engage pipe nipple 48 to orientU-bolt 20 with respect to the longitudinal axis of drum l0.

It is to be understood that any type of member other than the I-beam maybe used as the support member and it is well within the scope of the artto determine those members which can provide the necessary structuralstrength to be used as a support member in the instant invention. Inaddition, the description of the embodiments of the invention has beendirected to the provision of means for permitting the U -bolt to remainvertical during the hoisting of the inclined drum. It is to beunderstood that the instant invention is applicable to the lifting ofhorizontal drums as well. In hoisting horizontal drums (withoutinclination), the U-bolt 20 may be placed such that the bottom 26 of theU-bolt contacts the bottom of the drum 10. A support member will bepositioned between the legs of the U-bolt as shown in FIG. 2, and meanswill be provided on the support member such as means 74 for engaging thepipe nipple to position the U-bolt with respect to the longitudinal axisof the drum. The horizontal drum may then be lifted into position underthe supporting girders l2 conjointly with U-bolt 20, substantially asdescribed above. It will be well within the scope of the art to makesuch modifications as will be required to carry out the hoisting of ahorizontal drum in accordance with the instant invention.

While only a limited number of embodiments of the foregoing inventionhave been expressly described, it is nonetheless to be broadly construedand not to bev limited except by the character of the claims appendedhereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A method of conjointly hoisting a boiler drum, at least one U-boltand a pivot beam assembly having a pivot axis into place in a buildingwhich has receiving means for said U-bolt comprising the steps ofplacing said boiler drum in said U-bolt such that the boiler drum isclear of the bottom of the U-bolt, pivotally mounting said pivot beamassembly on the legs of the U-bolt and above the said boiler drum thecenter of gravity of saidU-bolt being below the said pivot axis,

tilting said boiler drum with respect to the horizontal during hoistingto clear obstructions in said building whereby said U-bolt pivots aboutsaid pivot axis and remains substantially vertical.

2. The method specified in claim 1 further comprising the step ofpositioning said U-bolt on said boiler drum so that said U-bolt isaligned with said receiving means for said U-bolt located in saidbuilding.

, 3.- The method specified in claim 2 further comprising the step ofguiding said U-bolts into said receiving means.

4. A method of hoisting an element into place in a building comprising:

surrounding at least the bottom and sides of said element with a supporthanger for anchoring the element to the building after hoisting,

pivotally mounting the support hanger on said element, saidhanger being.suspended freely without any attachments to it, and such that the centerof gravity of said hanger lies below the support

1. A method of conjointly hoisting a boiler drum, at least one U-boltand a pivot beam assembly having a pivot axis into place in a buildingwhich has receiving means for said U-bolt comprising the steps ofplacing said boiler drum in said U-bolt such that the boiler drum isclear of the bottom of the U-bolt, pivotally mounting said pivot beamassembly on the legs of the Ubolt and above the said boiler drum, thecenter of gravity of said U-bolt being below the said pivot axis,tilting said boiler drum with respect to the horizontal during hoistingto clear obstructions in said building whereby said U-bolt pivots aboutsaid pivot axis and remains substantially vertical.
 2. The methodspecified in claim 1 further comprising the step of positioning saidU-bolt on said boiler drum so that said U-bolt is aligned with saidreceiving means for said U-bolt located in said building.
 3. The methodspecified in claim 2 further comprising the step of guiding said U-boltsinto said receiving means.
 4. A method of hoisting an element into placein a building comprising: surrounding at least the bottom and sides ofsaid element with a support hanger for anchoring the element to thebuilding after hoisting, pivotally mounTing the support hanger on saidelement, said hanger being suspended freely without any attachments toit, and such that the center of gravity of said hanger lies below thesupport hanger pivot point, applying a hoisting force directly to saidelement such that said hanger and said element are raised cojointly,tilting said element during hoisting, retaining said support hanger in asubstantially vertical position during hoisting regardless of thetilting of said element, leveling said element at the desired elevationin the building, and fastening said support hanger to said building atsaid elevation.